Mechanism for controlling the position of levers

Description

[0001] This invention relates generally to control levers used on machinery such as agricultural tractors to operate hydraulic devices and, more particularly, to a mechanism cooperable with the control lever to limit the movement thereof and, thereby, restrict the operation of the corresponding hydraulic device.

[0002] A rotatable position control apparatus of the above type is disclosed in US-A-4.548.094. This apparatus is in the form of a cylinder having notches formed therein to engage the control lever passing therethrough and limit the movement of the control lever in accordance with the notch aligned with the control lever. The cylinder is provided with a thumb wheel member that projects upwardly through the control panel for rotation by the operator to select the respective notch to be aligned with the control lever.

[0003] However, to improve the manipulation by the operator to select the various modes of operation of the hydraulic system, it would be desirable to provide an alternative control lever position control mechanism having a more positively engageable pivotal actuation lever. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide an alternative position control mechanism that would be operable to select a greater range of hydraulic system modes of operation.

[0004] The arrangement of US-A-5.062.316 which comprises the features of the preamble of claim 1 already fulfils some of the above demands, however suffers from the disadvantage that for selecting certain hydraulic system modes three different levers have to be manipulated, which complicates the use of the arrangement for an operator.

[0005] It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide a pivotable lockout means which is more positively engageable than the known prior art arrangements and which enables a greater variety of operative modes for the operation of the associated hydraulic system in a simple manner.

[0006] According to the present invention a position control mechanism for a pivotally movable control lever is provided comprising :

• a pivotable actuating lever having a lockout pin projecting outwardly therefrom, and
• a gated plate pivotally movable with said control lever, said gated plate including a first gate engageable with said lockout pin when said actuating lever is in a first position to fix said control lever in a neutral mode.

[0007] The position control mechanism is characterized in that :

• said gated plate further comprises :

  * a second elongated gate alternatively engageable with said lockout pin when said actuating lever is in said first position to fix said control lever in a hydraulic motor mode; and

  * a stop engageable with said lockout pin when said actuating lever is in a second position to restrain the pivotal movement of said control lever from being positioned in a float mode; and

• said lockout pin is positionable out of engagement with said gated plate when said actuating lever is in a third position to allow said control lever an unrestricted freedom of movement.

[0008] The position control mechanism provides four separate functions of operation of the corresponding hydraulic system through the pivotal actuating lever movable between three positions. The operator can positively orient the position control means in a selected orientation for selection of the desired function of the associated hydraulic system. The operator furthermore has a readily visible feedback from the selected pivoted orientation of the actuating lever to determine the function of the associated hydraulic system that has been selected.

[0009] A position control mechanism in accordance with the present invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of a tractor incorporating the principles of the instant invention, the tractor being provided with an operator's station including a multi-lever control panel for operating various tractor hydraulic devices;

Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a representative control lever corresponding to lines 2 - 2 of Figure 1 with the control lever being locked into a neutral mode by the pivoted actuating lever of the corresponding lockout assembly;

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to the view of Figure 2, except that the actuating lever has been retracted into a disengagement position to allow the unrestricted free pivotal movement of the control lever;

Figure 4 is another partial cross-sectional view corresponding to the view of Figure 2 with the actuating lever being positioned to prevent the control lever from being placed into a float mode;

Figure 5 is still another partial cross-sectional view of the control lever corresponding to the view of Figure 2 with the actuating lever being place into an orientation restricting the movement of the control lever between the lower position and the float position, also known as a hydraulic motor mode;

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the control lever taken along lines 6 - 6 of Figure 2 to depict an enlarged top plan view of the slotted openings in the control panel provided for movement of the control lever and the corresponding actuating lever;

Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to the view of Figure 6 of an alternative embodiment of the actuating lever assembly;

Figure 8 is an exploded detail view of the dogbone washer and actuating lever forming part of the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 7 to depict the relationship therebetween; and

Figure 9 is a detail view of the actuating lever taken along lines 9-9 of Figure 8 to depict the detent engageable with the notches in the dogbone washer to restrict movement of the actuating lever.

[0010] Referring now to Figure 1, a representative schematic tractor can best be seen. The tractor 10 includes a wheeled platform 12 supporting an operator's station 15 in a conventional manner. The operator's station 15 may include an enclosed operator cab 16 in which is positioned a seat 17, conventional steering mechanism 18 and a control panel 20 within arm's reach of the seat 17. The control panel 20 is typically provided with several control levers 22 projecting upwardly through the control panel 20 for manipulation thereof by the operator to control various conventional hydraulic devices (not shown) known to be incorporated into modern tractors 10.

[0011] Referring now to Figures 2 - 6, the details of the position control mechanism 30 can best be seen. The representative control lever 22 is pivotally supported by a first pivot 23 carried by the subframe 21 of the control panel 20 for movement in a fore-and-aft direction. The control panel 20 is provided with a first slotted opening 24 therein to accommodate this pivotal movement of the control lever 22. The control lever 22 is equipped with a gated plate 25 that is pivotal with the lever 22 about the supporting first pivot 23. The gated plate 25 is formed with a first gate 26, an elongated second gate 27, and a stop member 28 oriented adjacent the second gate 27.

[0012] The position control mechanism 30 includes an actuating lever 32 which is pivotally supported from the subframe 21 of the control panel 20 by a second pivot 33 to permit movement of the actuating lever 32 in a fore-and-aft direction. In as much as the first and second pivots 23, 33 are oriented generally parallel to each other, movement of the actuating lever 32 is also generally parallel to the movement of the control lever 22. The actuating lever 32 is provided with a lockout pin 35 projecting transversely to the plane of the actuating lever 32 to be engageable with the gated plate 25. The actuating lever, as best seen in Figure 6, is movable within a second slotted opening 34 in the control panel 20 between three selectable positions. The second slotted opening 34 is provided with three detention notches 36, 37, 38 for retaining the actuating lever 32 in its preselected position. The actuating lever 32 is associated with a spring device 39 to urge the lever 32 into engagement with the notches 36, 37, 38. To move the actuating lever 32 from one notch to the other, the biasing force exerted by the spring 39 can be manually overcome to move the lever 32 within the second slotted opening 34.

[0013] As best seen in Figures 2 - 5, the control lever 22 is movable between four operating positions. The rearwardmost position, shown in solid lines in Figure 3 and in phantom in Figure 4, corresponds to a "raise function" in which the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic system associated with the control lever 22 is permitted to flow in a first direction, typically to effect a raising of an implement attached to the tractor. The primary intermediate position of the lever 22 is shown in solid lines in Figure 2 and corresponds to a neutral position in which the hydraulic fluid within the associated hydraulic system is prevented from flowing through the system and doing any work.

[0014] The primary forward position of the lever 22 is shown in solid lines in Figures 4 and 5 and corresponds to a "lower function" in which the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic system associated with the control lever 22 is permitted to flow in a second direction opposite to the "raise function", typically to effect a lowering of an implement attached to the tractor. The forwardmost operating position is shown in phantom in Figures 3 and 5 and corresponds to a "float function" in which the hydraulic fluid is permitted to flow through the hydraulic system in either the first or second directions. The "float function" is associated with a conventional detent mechanism in the hydraulic system to lock the system in this operation until the lever 22 is physically moved from this position.

[0015] As best seen in the comparison of the views of Figures 2 - 5, the gated plate 25 rotates about the first pivot 23 whenever the control lever 22 is moved between its respective positions. The adjacent actuating lever 32 is selectively positionable to locate the lockout pin 35 in engagement with the gated plate 25. As depicted in Figure 2, the actuating lever 32 is moved to the forwardmost notch 36 to locate the lockout pin 35 in the first gate 26. The lockout pin 35 can only be received in the first gate 26 when the control lever 22 is placed in the intermediate neutral position. Once the actuating lever 32 is restrained within the forwardmost notch 36 by the spring device 39 and the lockout pin 35 received in the first gate 26, the hydraulic system is locked in the neutral function until the actuating lever 32 is disengaged from the gated plate 25. Accordingly, the configuration of the position control mechanism 30 shown in Figure 2 provides a neutral lock for the hydraulic system associated with the control lever 22.

[0016] Referring now to Figure 5, one skilled in the art can see that the placement of the actuating lever 32 in the forwardmost notch 36 when the control lever 22 is in the primary forwardmost (lower) position allows the lockout pin 35 to be received in the elongated second gate 27. In this orientation, the position control mechanism 30 locks the hydraulic system in a "hydraulic motor mode" in which the control lever 22 is permitted to move between the lower position and the float position. This hydraulic motor mode allows the hydraulic system to work a hydraulic motor, which generally operates in a single direction or is placed in an non-operating condition. The placement of the control lever 22 in the lower position directs the hydraulic fluid in a fixed direction to operate the hydraulic motor, i.e. placing the hydraulic motor in an "on" condition. Pushing the control lever 22 to the float position effectively turns the hydraulic motor "off" or places it in a neutral condition since the hydraulic fluid is not forced through the system in any direction.

[0017] Referring to the configuration of the gated plate 25 as shown in Figures 2 - 5, it can be seen that the actuating lever 32 cannot be placed into the forwardmost notch 36 unless the control lever 22 is in the neutral or lower positions because of the interference between the lockout pin 35 and the gated plate 25. Accordingly, the forwardmost notch 36 is used by the operator only when the neutral lock feature or the hydraulic motor mode feature is desired.

[0018] Placement of the actuating lever 32 in the intermediate notch 37 locates the lockout pin 35 in an interfering position with respect to the stop member 28 forming a part of the gated plate 25. This interference between the stop member 28 and the lockout pin 35 restricts the pivotal movement permitted to the gated plate 25 and prevents the control handle 22 from reaching the forwardmost float position. Accordingly, the placement of the actuating lever 32 in the intermediate notch 37 provides a float lockout, while allowing a full range of movement of the control lever 22 between the raise, lower and neutral positions. As noted above, the actuating lever 32 cannot be placed into the intermediate notch 37 if the control lever 22 is already positioned in the float position because of the interference between the lockout pin 35 and the structure of the gated plate 25.

[0019] As depicted in Figure 3, the placement of the actuating lever 32 in the rearwardmost notch 38 retracts the lockout pin 35 from any engagement with the gated plate 25 and, therefore, allows an unrestricted free movement of the control lever 22 between all four selectable positions, including the float position shown in phantom in Figure 3.

[0020] The position control mechanism 30 provides a positively engageable pivotal lever 32 that is restrained in a preselected position in a positive manner. The operator can determine which lockout mode he has selected, if any, merely by observing the relative positions of the control lever 22 and/or the actuating lever 32.

[0021] Referring now to Figures 7 - 9, an alternative embodiment of the actuating lever 32 can be seen. Whereas the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 - 6 used notches 36, 37 and 38 into which the actuating lever 32 was spring-loaded, the alternative embodiment of Figures 7 - 9 provides a smooth slotted opening 34 through which the actuating lever 32 extends and moves the detent mechanism below the top portion of the control panel 20 to provide a cleaner design. The basic operation of the interrelationship of the actuating lever 32 and the control lever 22 remains unchanged from that described above.

[0022] To restrict the motion of the actuating lever 32, a dogbone washer 40 is provided to interconnect the first and second pivots 23, 33. The end of the dogbone washer 40 encircling the second pivot 33 is provided with three notches 41, 42 and 43, which correspond to the notches 36, 37 and 38 in the embodiment of Figures 1 - 6. A detent 45 forming a part of the actuating lever 32 is engageable with the notches 41, 42 and 43 to restrict rotational movement of the actuating lever 32 about the second pivot 33. A conventional spring washer assembly 49 urges the detent 45 into the notches 41, 42 and 43. The dogbone washer extends to encircle the first pivot 23 as a means of preventing the dogbone washer 40 from rotating about the second pivot 33.

Claims

1. A position control mechanism (30) for a pivotally movable control lever (22) comprising :

- a pivotable actuating lever (32) having a lockout pin (35) projecting outwardly therefrom, and

- a gated plate (25) pivotally movable with said control lever (22), said gated plate (25) including a first gate (26) engageable with said lockout pin (35) when said actuating lever (22) is in a first position to fix said control lever (22) in a neutral mode; and

   characterized in that :

- said gated plate (25) further comprises :

* a second elongated gate (27) alternatively engageable with said lockout pin (35) when said actuating lever (32) is in said first position to fix said control lever (22) in a hydraulic motor mode; and

* a stop (28) engageable with said lockout pin (35) when said actuating lever (32) is in a second position to restrain the pivotal movement of said control lever (22) from being positioned in a float mode; and

- said lockout pin (35) is positionable out of engagement with said gated plate (25) when said actuating lever (32) is in a third position to allow said control lever (22) an unrestricted freedom of movement.

2. A position control mechanism (30) according to claim 1 characterized in that said control lever (22) is operatively connected to a hydraulic system for selectively placing said hydraulic system in a first mode in which movement of hydraulic fluid through said hydraulic system is effected only in a first direction, in a second mode in which movement of said hydraulic fluid through said hydraulic system is effected only in a second direction, in said neutral mode in which said hydraulic fluid is prevented from movement within said hydraulic system, and in said float mode in which said hydraulic fluid is free to move through said hydraulic system in either said first or said second direction.

3. A position control mechanism (30) according to claim 2 characterized in that, in said hydraulic motor mode, said control lever (22) is selectively movable between said first mode and said float mode.

4. A position control mechanism (30) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said control lever (22) and the corresponding said actuating lever (32) project outwardly for pivotal manipulation thereof through a control panel (20) having a first slotted opening (24) to permit movement of said control lever (22) and an adjacent second slotted opening (34) for accommodating the movement of the corresponding actuating lever (32).

5. A position control mechanism (30) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said actuating lever (32) is provided with a detent member (45) cooperable with a retention assembly (40) having three notches (41, 42, 43) formed therein, said retention assembly (40) and said actuating lever (32) being urged into engagement so that said detent member (45) is restrained within one of said notches (41, 42, 43) corresponding to the selected position of sai d actuating lever (32).

6. A position control mechanism (30) according to claim 4 characterized in that said second slotted opening (34) is formed with three detention notches (36, 37, 38) corresponding to the three positions of said actuating lever (32), said actuating lever (32) being spring-loaded toward engagement with said detention notches (36, 37, 38) and each said detention notch (36, 37, 38) being operable to retain said actuation lever (32) in the selected position.

Ansprüche

1. Positionssteuermechanismus (30) für einen schwenkbar beweglichen Steuerhebel (22), mit:

- einem schwenkbaren Betätigungshebel (32) mit einem von diesem nach außen vorspringenden Sperrstift (35), und

- einer mit Einfallöffnungen versehenen Platte (25), die schwenkbar zusammen mit dem Steuerhebel (22) beweglich ist, wobei die mit Einfallöffnungen (25) versehene Platte eine erste Einfallöffnung (26) einschließt, die mit dem Sperrstift (35) in Eingriff bringbar ist, wenn sich der Betätigungshebel (22) in einer ersten Stellung befindet, um den Steuerhebel (22) in einer neutralen Betriebsart festzulegen,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß

- die mit Einfallöffnungen versehen Platte (25) weiterhin folgende Teile aufweist:

* eine zweite langgestreckte Einfallöffnung (27), die alternativ mit dem Sperrstift (35) in Eingriff bringbar ist, wenn sich der Betätigungshebel (32) in der ersten Position befindet, um den Steuerhebel (22) in einer HydraulikmotorBetriebsart festzulegen, und

* einen mit dem Sperrstift (35) in Eingriff bringbaren Anschlag (28), wenn sich der Betätigungshebel (32) in einer zweiten Stellung befindet, um die Schwenkbewegung des Steuerhebels (22) an einer Einstellung auf eine Schwimmbetriebsart zu hindern, und

- der Sperrstift (35) außer Eingriff mit der mit Einfallöffnungen versehenen Platte (25) einstellbar ist, wenn sich der Betätigungshebel (32) in einer dritten Stellung befindet, um eine unbegrenzte Bewegungsfreiheit für den Steuerhebel (22) zu ermöglichen.

2. Positionssteuermechanismus (30) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Steuerhebel (22) betriebsmäßig mit einem Hydrauliksystem verbunden ist, um das Hydrauliksystem selektiv auf eine erste Betriebsart, in der die Bewegung der Hydraulikflüssigkeit durch das Hydrauliksystem lediglich in einer ersten Richtung bewirkt wird, auf eine zweite Betriebsart, in der die Bewegung der Hydraulikflüssigkeit durch das Hydrauliksystem lediglich in einer zweiten Richtung bewirkt wird, auf die neutrale Betriebsart, in der die Hydraulikflüssigkeit an einer Bewegung in dem Hydrauliksystem gehindert ist, und auf die Schwimmbetriebsart zu bringen, in der die Hydraulikflüssigkeit sich frei durch das Hydrauliksystem sowohl in der ersten als auch der zweiten Richtung bewegen kann.

3. Positionssteuermechanismus (30) nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Steuerhebel (22) in der Hydraulikmotorbetriebsart selektiv zwischen der ersten Betriebsart und der Schwimmbetriebsart beweglich ist.

4. Positionssteuermechanismus (30) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Steuerhebel (22) und der entsprechende Betätigungshebel (32) durch eine Schalttafel (20) mit einer ersten Schlitzöffnung (24) zur Ermöglichung der Bewegung des Steuerhebels (22) und mit einer benachbarten zweiten Schlitzöffnung (34) zur Ermöglichung der Bewegung des entsprechenden Betätigungshebels (32) nach außen hin vorspringen, um einer Schwenkbetätigung unterworfen zu werden.

5. Positionssteuermechanismus (30) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Betätigungshebel (32) mit einem Rastelement (45) versehen ist, das mit einer Rastbaugruppe (40) zusammenwirken kann, die drei darin ausgebildete Nuten (41, 42, 43) aufweist, wobei die Rastbaugruppe (40) und das Rastelement (32) in Eingriff miteinander gedrückt werden, so daß das Rastelement (45) in einer der Nuten (41, 42, 4) festgehalten wird, die der ausgewählten Position des Betätigungshebels (32) entspricht.

6. Positionssteuermechanismus (30) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die zweite Schlitzöffnung (34) mit drei Rastnuten (36, 37, 38) ausgebildet ist, die den drei Stellungen des Betätigungshebels (32) entsprechen, daß der Betätigungsebel (32) in Richtung auf einen Eingriff mit den Rastnuten (36, 37, 38) federvorbelastet ist, und daß jede Rastnut (36, 37, 38) zum Festhalten des Betätigungshebels (32) in der ausgewählten Stellung betreibbar ist.

Revendications

1. Mécanisme (30) de contrôle de position pour un levier de commande pivotant (22) comprenant:

- un levier d'activation (32) possédant un tenon de verrouillage (35) en extension par rapport à lui, et

- une plaque entaillée (25) pivotable avec ledit levier de commande (22), ladite plaque entaillée (25) comprenant une première entaille (26) pouvant s'engager avec ledit tenon de verrouillage (35), lorsque ledit levier d'activation (22) est dans une première position afin de fixer ledit levier de commande (22) dans un mode neutre. Le mécanisme de contrôle de position est caractérisé en ce que:

- ladite plaque entaillée (25) comprend en outre:

* une seconde entaille allongée (27) engageable alternativement avec ledit tenon de verrouillage (35) lorsque ledit levier d'activation (32) se trouve dans ladite première position pour fixer ledit levier de commande (22) dans un mode de moteur hydraulique; et

* un arrêt (28) engageable avec ledit tenon de verrouillage (35) lorsque le levier d'activation (32) se trouve dans une seconde position pour empêcher le mouvement de pivotement dudit levier de commande (22) d'être positionné dans un mode flottant; et

- ledit tenon de verrouillage (35) peut être positionné en dégagement par rapport à ladite plaque entaillée (25) lorsque ledit levier d'activation (25) se trouve dans une troisième position afin de permettre audit levier de commande (22) une liberté de mouvement sans contrainte.

2. Mécanisme (30) de contrôle de position selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit levier (22) de commande est fonctionnellement relié à un système hydraulique pour positionner sélectivement ledit système hydraulique dans un premier mode dans lequel un mouvement du fluide hydraulique au travers du système hydraulique est effectué uniquement dans une première direction, dans un second mode dans lequel un mouvement dudit fluide hydraulique est effectué uniquement dans une seconde direction, dans ledit mode neutre dans lequel ledit fluide hydraulique est empêché de se déplacer dans ledit système hydraulique, et dans ledit mode flottant dans lequel ledit fluide hydraulique est libre de se déplacer au travers dudit système hydraulique dans soit ladite première ou soit ladite seconde direction.

3. Mécanisme (30) de contrôle de position selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que dans ledit mode de moteur hydraulique, ledit levier (22) de commande est déplaçable sélectivement entre ledit premier mode et ledit mode flottant.

4. Mécanisme (30) de contrôle de position selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit levier (22) de commande et ledit levier (32) d'activation se prolongent vers l'extérieur pour leur manoeuvre de pivotement au travers d'un panneau (20) de commande possédant une première coulisse (24) permettant le mouvement dudit levier (22) de commande et une seconde coulisse (34) adjacente pour accueillir le mouvement du levier (32) d'activation correspondant.

5. Mécanisme (30) de contrôle de position selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce que ledit levier (32) d'activation est pourvu d'un organe (45) d'arrêtoir associable avec un ensemble (40) de retenue possédant trois encoches (41, 42, 43) qui y sont ménagées, ledit ensemble (40) de retenue et ledit levier (32) d'activation étant contraint de s'engager de telle manière que ledit organe (45) d'arrêtoir est retenu dans l'une desdites encoches (41, 42, 43) correspondant à la position sélectionnée dudit levier (32) d'activation.

6. Mécanisme (30) selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ladite seconde coulisse (34) est constituée de trois encoches (36, 37, 38) de retenue correspondant aux trois positions dudit levier (32) d'activation, ledit levier (32) d'activation étant contraint par un ressort à s'engager dans l'une desdites encoches (36, 37, 38) de retenue et chacune desdites encoches (36, 37, 38) de retenue étant destinée à maintenir ledit levier (32) d'activation dans la position sélectionnée.

Drawing